Dr. Karen Hahn
Fachbereich Biowissenschaften
Sustainable use of savanna vegetation in West Africa in the context of climate and land use change - insights from a transdisciplinary research project
Savannas are one of the most important ecosystems in Africa. They cover more than half of the continent and provide important ecosystem services for the livelihoods of their human populations. They are also important for global dynamics as they deliver about 30% of terrestrial net primary production. Due to climate change and increasing land use pressure savannas undergo severe changes (e.g. loss of biodiversity, soil degradation), which strongly impact on the provisioning of ecosystem services and consequently on human livelihoods. Understanding the complex interactions of environmental factors and human actions as well as developing strategies for adaptation and sustainable use is still a key challenge, which requires inter- and transdisciplinary research approaches.
In this talk I will present the transdisciplinary research approach of the UNDESERT project, which focused on an improved understanding of land and vegetation degradation, their impact on ecosystem services, and approaches for sustainable use in the West African savanna zone. The challenges and requirements of such a transdisciplinary project, integrating scientists from different natural and social disciplines as well as involving stakeholders from various levels will be addressed and lessons learnt will be presented. Moreover, the challenges, pros and cons from the perspective of researchers participating in such transdisciplinary research projects will be discussed